Nov. 7, 2025 – When Robin Cunningham graduated from high school in 2001, he did not picture himself going to college. No one in his family had pursued education beyond high school.
“There were a couple of years of just floating, just hanging out,” Cunningham said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do.”
After a tornado destroyed his apartment in Ladysmith in 2002, Cunningham found himself living back in his parents’ basement, working factory jobs and doing farm chores. He decided to join the U.S. Air Force and enlisted the following year. Cunningham trained in explosive ordnance disposal and served two combat tours in Iraq, with additional deployments to Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait and Jordan.
About 10 years into his service, married and with a daughter, Cunningham transitioned to working full time in the Air Force Reserves, based in Minneapolis and living in Hudson. As he began thinking about what would come after his military service, Cunningham began taking one class at a time at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, majoring in business. But he discovered his true passion in broad field social studies.
“The experience you get in the military just takes you out of your world,” Cunnigham said. “You meet people from all over the country, then all over the world, and you see how interconnected they all are. And I think social studies allows you to see that.”
Cunningham said it was through mentoring other service members that he discovered his love of teaching. Now a senior, Cunningham plans to graduate in 2027 and pursue a second career teaching high school social studies.
When Caleb Wiener, a junior health and human performance major from Chippewa Falls, was preparing to graduate from high school, he wanted to earn a college degree—making him the first in his family to do so—but he also wanted to pursue a career in the military.
“I had a passion for wanting to help people,” Wiener said. “The Marines offered a space to do that and use my skills.”
Wiener enlisted in the US. Marine Reserves in 2023 and enrolled in the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class. The program allows undergraduate college students to prepare to be commissioned as officers in the Marine Corps after graduation. Wiener says his USMC training has helped him gain confidence, learn skills and decide what he wants to do in the future.
UWRF proved to be a good match for Wiener’s educational goals. The university’s proximity to the Twin Cities was an attraction, and he has found opportunities to show his talents on campus and in the community. In addition to his studies and officer training, Wiener serves as chief justice of the UWRF Student Government Association and volunteers with the River Falls Fire Department.
Wiener said the discipline and fast pace of learning in the military helped him build his self-confidence and prepare him for success in college.
“And now I'm able to be a leader to my peers and help them when they're struggling,” Wiener said. “And I have those tools to give them.”
After graduation, Wiener will begin his career as an active-duty Marine Corps officer in expeditionary fire rescue. He plans to work as a civilian firefighter after he leaves the service.
Christy Boyer, access services manager for UWRF’s Chalmer Davee Library, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1998 and served five years. Boyer said she didn’t feel ready for college after high school and serving in the Marines helped her grow up and develop a strong work ethic.
“I matured a lot,” Boyer said. “I’ve taken a lot of life lessons from my time in the Marines. I learned a lot about standing up for myself, being assertive without being aggressive, speaking out and being heard. What I have learned is still with me.”
Some habits remain from those days, including thinking in 24-hour military time.
Boyer said she also appreciates the off-duty experiences she had while serving overseas.
“How many 24-year-olds could say they have been shopping in Saudi Arabia or skiing in Turkey?” Boyer said. “I’ve ridden a camel in Saudi Arabia. I learned a lot, met a lot of really cool people. That’s actually how my husband, Lucas, and I met. We were stationed in the same squadron.”
After being discharged, Boyer earned a bachelor's degree in history, then a master’s degree in library sciences. Though she is originally from Georgia, she found herself feeling at home in the Midwest and came to work at UWRF in 2014.
“It’s a really great city,” Boyer said. “I like the small-town feel of the UWRF campus. It’s close to the Twin Cities. I love the change of seasons.”
On Veterans Day, Boyer said she finds herself reflecting not just on her time in the military but also thinking about those who served before and the challenges they faced during and after their service. She said we should never stop working to make things better for veterans.
“How can I as a person help veterans? That’s not a question I take lightly,” Boyer said.
Cunningham said he enjoys spending Veterans Day visiting school events where students are invited to ask questions of veteran panelists. It’s also a great chance to connect with other veterans.
“There's always that instant friendship and camaraderie based on the fact that you served,” Cunningham said. “You always find something you had in common, whether it was a duty station, a deployment location, training or exercise, and you think, ‘What a small world.’”
Wiener, who is near the beginning of his military journey, believes Veterans Day is a good reminder to regularly check in with those you know who have served or are serving now. He takes inspiration from something he was told by a friend who served as a chaplain.
“Every day is a good day to make sure that people are doing OK,” Wiener said.